Enraged by Bristol Palin on 'Dancing,' man shoots TV, prompts standoff
Original Post: JS Online
By Sharif Durhams and Ryan Haggerty of the Journal Sentinel
Steven N. Cowan
Associated Press
In this publicity image released by ABC, Bristol Palin performs during the celebrity dance competition series, "Dancing with the Stars," on Monday.
A rural Dane County town supervisor believes Bristol Palin should not be on "Dancing With The Stars."
He demanded his wife get his pistols to emphasize his point.
The result: A 15-hour standoff Monday and Tuesday involving hostage negotiators, a dog team and other law enforcement authorities on one side and the Town of Vermont man on the other.
The only casualty: The man's television.
Dane County prosecutors have charged Steven N. Cowan with second-degree reckless endangerment in the incident that made his wife worry he would shoot her, according to a criminal complaint.
Cowan, 67, and his wife were in their living room Monday night, watching the dance competition program that features the daughter of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin as a competitor this season.
As Bristol Palin danced on the screen, Cowan raged.
"The (expletive) politics," he yelled, according to the complaint. Cowan, a Town of Vermont supervisor, was upset that a political figure's daughter was on the show when he didn't consider her a good dancer, his wife told authorities.
Cowan went to his bedroom and came back about 20 minutes later, demanding that his wife find his pistols. Cowan's daughter had taken two handguns for safety reasons, according to the complaint.
Cowan tracked down a single-shot shotgun in the house, he "slapped" shells down onto a TV tray, loaded a round and took out the TV, the complaint says.
Cowan's face was bright red. He loaded the gun again. His wife put a blanket over her head, thinking that if her husband decided to shoot at her, she didn't want to see it, the complaint says.
Cowan again demanded his pistols. His wife grabbed her purse and went to the police department, and the standoff ensued, the complaint says.
Cowan's wife told authorities he has been taking medication for bipolar disorder and that the family's finances have caused stress. He had been drinking at a bar before he came home, according to the complaint.
Cowan appeared at a hearing Wednesday where his bail was set at $1,500 and a status hearing was scheduled for Dec. 6. Meanwhile, Palin advanced to the finals of "Dancing With The Stars," which will air next week.
Larry Ziemer, a fellow town supervisor, said he has known Cowan for about 20 years.
"I have nothing but good things to say about Steve," Ziemer said. "It was totally out of character for this to occur. He just does an excellent job on the town board and in his private working life."
Ziemer said Cowan is a talented carpenter and is well-respected in the area. Ziemer said he had never heard Cowan speak ill of Sarah Palin or her family before.
“He and I agree pretty much on politics,” Ziemer said. “We would probably lean both to the liberal side.”
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